Imax Debuts 4K 3D Digital Camera on Transformers: Age of Extinction

Imax today said that it has developed a new 4K 3D digital camera system that was used by director Michael Bay and cinematographer Amir Mokri on Transformers: Age of Extinction, the first feature film to employ the camera.

The company didn't release a lot of information about the new camera beyond asserting that both left- and right-eye images are captured at a full 4K resolution with an Imax presentation aspect ratio of 1.9:1. (Standard theatrical releases will presumably be cropped top and bottom to reach 1.85:1 or 2.40:1.) Because the camera is described as "dual 65mm," we're assuming that the imagers are roughly equivalent in size to a frame of 65mm film — though we're not sure whether that would be a five-perf frame or a much larger 15-perf, Imax-style frame. Update 06/17/14: We asked for more information on the "dual 65mm" sensors and received this response: "Imax uses a custom OEM 4K horizontal sensor that is physically the largest of all commercially available cinema camera sensors."

Imax described the new camera as "fully integrated," meaning the interchangeable lens is actually a stereo pair in a single removable unit, rather than two separate lenses shooting through a beamsplitter in a bulkier rig configuration. The sleeker form factor allowed the Transformers to use the camera for "several key action sequences" — including chase scenes and helicopter shots — where an Imax beamsplitter rig would have been too cumbersome.

Many Imax cinematographers specialize in wildlife, so the company was sure to build in a continuous-recording mode that makes it easier for shooters to keep rolling with a one-to-two minute buffer and capture those sudden crucial bursts of action out in the field.

No matter how good the camera's images turn out to be, they're unlikely to mollify film fans who have felt betrayed by Imax's move away from film-based capture and exhibition to digital presentations. The company made a point of saying it is continuing to manufacture 15-perf 65mm film cameras based on demand from "leading Hollywood filmmakers," calling them the "industry gold standard" when it comes to resolution.

Imax camera department director Mike Hendriks introduced the camera in a promotional video released today that includes some action shots from the Transformers production. Watch it below.

We flew that camera in our Pictorvision Eclipse Gyro-Stabilized aerial system for the film. Worked great.

jon kitzen

There is an error in this story. If the camera is a 1.9:1 aspect ratio and imax is a 4:3 then they are cropping the side of frame in order to try to get print height. It is also two Phantom 65’s stuck together in a fancy box, which is fine, but not exactly “new”

Bryant Frazer

Hm, that makes sense. Thanks for the info. I’ve asked IMAX for more information and I’ll update the text when/if I get a response.